Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-05-30

home III Cincinnati, Bennett anu W lrtley ndu
settled in Chicago, and, as martial represen-
tatives of Ohio and Illinois, had entered the
| field Immediately after the fire on Sumter.
| They were all bachelors then, nearly the
came age, and having gone with their COM
mands to Missouri, were soon DIR. wn into ac-
| auaintance and friendship by similarity of
| opinions and tastes. They had seen good
deal of service in different parts of the south;
| had all been wounded-Goodwin and Whitley
several times each-and had kept up the
friendship joined in the early days. After
| the close of the struggle they found them
selves in New York, where they are still
engaged in business. The endless distrac-
| lions of the city prevent their meeting as
often as they would choose; but on Decora-
| ton day they are always in company, and are
likely to be bound together by associations OF
the past while life continues. They are cred
| liable examples of the citizen soldiers on
whom. the republic can always depend in
time of need. They, in common with millions
of their countrymen north and south, so re-
we're the national ensign that they would
sacrifice everything in its defense.
| Goodwin" said Whitley tbe four had
| dropped their military titles, like sensible
| men, with the termination of the war;, ave
| all feel as YOU do about the old flag, as you
well know. have been told that you showed
| your devotion to it by recapturing the colors
| of your regiment at Wilson's Creek Can't
| you give us the story"
GIt's not worth telling" replied Goodwin.
at was only one of the many incidents that
occurred on many battle fields; and, besides,
it is bad taste, you will agree, for a man to
recte his own experiences. He is very apt
to imagine himself a hero when he is a very
commonplace MORTAL
"Let us have the story, Goodwin" ex-
claimed the three 1--WE are friends" added
you capable of boasting On this day any
one who has been soldier is excusable for
indulging in personal "reminiscences. We
have all been doing it, you know. Fire away,
old fellow"
"lf you are bored, then it will he your own
fault" remarked Goodwin "The story is not
long, anyhow; no, You won't suffer much
more than you acticipate. had formed q
high idea of Capt Nathaniel Lyon when he
broke up the secession camp formed by Gov
ernor jackson in St Louis and | was very
! Rldu 10 DE Ill Ills command. he Iiit tteh dil
pointed briSaiier, and / was with him al
Bonneville, where he routed Confederate
force that the governor had got together, and
at Dry Spring. where he defeated McCulloch
When McCulloch and Price united, anG
threatened to gain possession of southwest
Missouri, ! approved of Lyons determine
ton to give them battle at Wilson's Creek. il
spite of their superior numbers. l had en-
listed as a private in St Louis and was al
ready a captain, so that my opinion had
some weight. We were all so inexperienced
then that man who had participated in sucl
skirmishes I'VE called them battles as Boone
Vile and Dry Spring was regarded as triet
soldier.
How wildly l remember the 10th o.
August, the day on which the engagement al
Wilson'S Greek occurred The ground wa.
rolling like most Of the land in Green,
county, Mo, with clumps of trees here anC
there and O forest in the distance Th,
weather was intensely hot, and the dust from
the movements of the adverse armies aImos
suffocating Gen. Lyon, as we were drawn
up for battle, rode along the line encouraging
the men. He told them how much depende,
on the result of the fight, to stand firm t,
y,
that on each soldiers conduct the result NIGH
hang | could see that he was anxious, hu
he looked hopeful. cheerful and undaunted
A drawer, more patriotic man never Tough
in the Union cause. | felt that he would, i
he should I'VE, lead US TO victory; that h,
could not fail. So lie seemed to affect every
body that came into his presence
MY regiment was one of the first oriere,
forward on the enemys right We wer
ordered TO withhold our fire until within fiftv
| yards; but the men were SO excited and un
disciplined that they began firing long befor
they could do much harm The fire was re
turned when we were near enough to see tn
faces of the Confederates, and appeared t.
be very destructive. My men seemed to b
falling all around me- But ! soon saw tina
it was partially confusion in the ranks, cause,
by unfamilarity with danger The mel
We're speedily rallied, and | observed tina
only few had been struck | ordered m,
company not to mind the wounded and w
rapidly advanced l had had at the outset
keen sense of fear; | believed should be hi
every moment, But the fear quickly passed
| became intensely excited. and yet | wa.
outwardly calm. The dust and the smok,
of the guns covered everything, for the ali
was close and sitting | heard the roa
of the engagement, mingled with the groan
of the wounded and their ptiful cries 70
water | had choking thirst myself Tn
field seemed like burning desert VIVA
wouldn't have given for a drink of water
and there was waller nowhere, the canteen
being exhausted.
| notwithstanding my excitement, | grey
steadily calmer | ceased to think of myself
| had no idea of personal peril, though 81,
men dropping constantly. When it was on
of our men, was amazed When it was on
of the enemy, | was reioiced, and foun
myself shouting like the rest with deliriou
joy at every casualty on the other side
hungered for blood. | was like wild beast
If | could have slain thousand Confederate
with blow of my blade, | should have bee
happy. One of our officers rode before lis
He waved his sword, and cried out somethn
that ] could not understand The words La
scarcely left his lips when cannon ba
carried away his head, and his bleeding trun
fell to the ground The incident did TIC
horrify or startle me; it only quickened M
tigerish passion for revenge, and | yelle
with glee, minute after, as | saw n Cor
"The oddly uniformed line opposite. in wEic
butternut conspicuous color, shove
signs of giving way. Just then our standar
bearer, who was in advance, was struck All
fell A fresh Confederate force had bee
ordered up to relieve the troops we had bee
fighting, and bore down upon US ilf sue
numbers that we were ordered to withdra'
slowly, our faces to the foe. A dozen men
bers of our regiment had hurried forward t
rescue the flag, which had already been tor
from the staff by one of the enemy, fir
looking fellow, an officer plainly, and whic
he thrust into the breast of his coat
marked his countenance and figure | WI
sure that | should remember him Whs
pleasure ! should have taken in kllingshin
In order to recover the colors of tine regimen
which felt it such disgrace to lose in OF
of the first real battles of the war
"But there was no chance of recaptulring i
We steadily fell back, and We're soon relieve
| nv fresh trODps C1Ir rarinaut baJ l.,